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Discovery spotlights key role of mystery RNA modification in cells

By Guest PostJanuary 16, 2014Sciencecell differentiation, cells, chuan he, demethylation, deoxyribonucleic acid, diabetes, discovery, DNA, exact function, healthy cells, infertility, key role, m6a, messenger ribonucleic acid, methyl, methylation, mrna, mrna in question, mystery, n6 methyladenosine, neurobiology, obesity, organic compounds, parameter, peking university, proteins, regulating mrna lifetime, rna modification, san diego, sequence, university of california, university of chicago, xiao wang, ythdf2

Researchers had known for several decades that a certain chemical modification exists on messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA), which is essential to the flow of genetic information. But only recently did experiments at the University of Chicago show that one major function of this modification governs the longevity and decay of RNA, a process critical to the development of healthy cells.

The chemical modification on mRNA in question is called N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A). A recent study by UChicago scientists reveals how the m⁶A modification on mRNA could affect the half-life of mRNA that in turn regulates cellular protein quantities. That discovery could provide fundamental insights into healthy functioning and disorders such as obesity, diabetes and infertility. (more…)

Brain may play key role in blood sugar metabolism and diabetes development

By Guest PostNovember 13, 2013Healthblood sugar level, blood sugar metabolism, brain, cell, diabetes development, diabetes research lab, glucose effectiveness, glucose regulation, hyperglycemia, hypothesis, insulin dependent mechanisms, journal nature, key role, matthias tscho, michael w schwartz, pancreas, randy seeley, sensitivity to insulin, sugar level, two system model, type 2 diabetes, united states, vicious cycle

A growing body of evidence suggests that the brain plays a key role in glucose regulation and the development of type 2 diabetes, researchers write in the Nov. 7 ssue of the journal Nature. If the hypothesis is correct, it may open the door to entirely new ways to prevent and treat this disease, which is projected to affect one in three adults in the United States by 2050.

In the paper, lead author Dr. Michael W. Schwartz, UW professor of medicine and director of the Diabetes and Obesity Center of Excellence, and his colleagues from the universities of Cincinnati, Michigan, and Munich, note that the brain was originally thought to play an important role in maintaining normal glucose metabolism With the discovery of insulin in the 1920s, the focus of research and diabetes care shifted to almost exclusively to insulin. Today, almost all treatments for diabetes seek to either increase insulin levels or increase the body’s sensitivity to insulin. (more…)

Very Few Low-Income Moms Meet Breastfeeding Recommendations

By Guest PostMarch 16, 2012Healthaffluent population, awareness, breastfeeding, breastfeeding mother, caucasian, infants, jennifer hanna, key role, kissimmee, mari douma, medicaid population, michigan state university, mother, obstacles, physicians

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Less than 2 percent of low-income mothers met breastfeeding recommendations in a recent study – a drastic decline compared with a more affluent population – and a lack of support and available resources appears to play a key role.

The research findings out of Michigan State University suggest in addition to raising overall awareness of breastfeeding, especially among women of lower socioeconomic status, physicians can play a role in removing barriers that prevent new mothers from breastfeeding. (more…)

Nurses Key in Helping New Cancer Patients Overcome Fears

By Guest PostMarch 1, 2012Healthanti cancer treatment, anxiety, cancer death, diagnosis, distress, health care providers, key role, lung cancer, michigan state university, nurse, patient, patients, psychological adaptation, psychological distress, quality of life, rebecca h lehto, united states

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Often faced with overwhelming anxiety, patients newly diagnosed with lung cancer can find themselves in distress, and new research recommends nurses play a key role in alleviating concerns, leading to a better quality of life for patients.

A diagnosis of lung cancer – the leading cause of cancer death in the United States – brings with it high levels of stress and raises existential issues and death-related thoughts and concerns in patients, said Rebecca H. Lehto, assistant professor in the College of Nursing at Michigan State University. (more…)

Modified Vaccine Shows Promise in Preventing Malaria

By Guest PostSeptember 29, 2011Health, Scienceandrea amalfitano, barnett rosenberg, circumsporozoite protein, csp, deadly disease, eat 2, gene, gene adjuvants, global effort to prevent malaria infections, hiv, immune response, immune system stimulating gene, key role, malaria parasite, malaria vaccine, michigan state university, nathaniel j schuldt, protein, rea, us army, vaccine, virus, yasser a aldhamen

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Continuing a global effort to prevent malaria infections, Michigan State University researchers have created a new malaria vaccine – one that combines the use of a disabled cold virus with an immune system-stimulating gene – that appears to increase the immune response against the parasite that causes the deadly disease.

At the same time, the group led by Andrea Amalfitano of the College of Osteopathic Medicine also discovered another immune-system stimulating agent – created at MSU and which has been successful in improving immune responses in vaccines for diseases such as HIV – paradoxically made for a less effective malaria vaccine. (more…)

Tag Archives: key role

Discovery spotlights key role of mystery RNA modification in cells

Brain may play key role in blood sugar metabolism and diabetes development

Very Few Low-Income Moms Meet Breastfeeding Recommendations

Nurses Key in Helping New Cancer Patients Overcome Fears

Modified Vaccine Shows Promise in Preventing Malaria